Red Bank Regional H.S. culinary arts students Rebecca Helstern (l-r), Little Silver, Alexandra Collado, Shrewsbury, and Paola Olivarez, Red Bank, help prepare dinner at the Soul Kitchen in Red Bank during the holiday season. RBR culinary arts students took a field trip to dice and chop under the direction of executive chef Zeet Peabody. The Soul Kitchen, a project of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, serves up home-style meals every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in this community kitchen. A screening of “Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time” will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse, 1475W. Front St., Lincroft.

The feature-length documentary explores Leopold’s life in the early part of the 20th century and his influence on current land ethics. The filmis free and open to the public. For more information, call 732-284-6312.

Standing (l-r): St. James School students Emmett McNamara, Sarah Hough, Bella Murrer and (seated front to back) Catherine Escueta and Lauren Cleary competed in The WordMasters Challenge. For the third consecutive year, Hough earned a perfect score in the first meet of the Blue Division held in December. The national language arts competition, entered by more than 220,000 students annually, consists of three separate meets held at intervals during the school year. Hough is one of only 51 other eighth-grade students to achieve perfect results. *****

Musician Justin Ryan will perform a benefit concert 7 p.m. Jan. 28 for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia at First Presbyterian Church of Matawan, 883 State Highway 34, Matawan. Ryan will entertain the audience with classical music, hymns, children’s songs, movie and Broadway songs and will be playing the piano, ukulele and Array mbira. The entrance is free with a goodwill offering taken. All proceeds will be donated to Children’s Hospital for Cancer Research. Donations may also be made directly at http://giving.chop.edu. Refreshments will be served after the performance.

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On Jan. 8 a group of students, parents and friends from St. James School, Red Bank, including PrincipalWilliamCardone, took part in the sixth-annual Polar Bear Plunge of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Sea Bright. More than 500 plungers from 24 different schools jumped into the 47-degree water to raise money in support of Catholic education. Led by the Hibernians’ bagpipers, the plungers raised more than $9,600 for St. James School. The event was hosted by Merri-Makers at Water’s Edge, Ocean Avenue.

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Cancer Support Community, 613 Hope Road, Eatontown, will offer “Knitting for Wellness” 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 2. Members of The Ladies of the Yarn knitting group are bringing knitting back to the Cancer Support Community. No experience or supplies are needed. Knitters of all levels, including beginners, are welcome. All programs are offered free of charge to people affected by cancer. Call 732-578-9200 to register.

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The ninth annual concert for the Food- Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties will be held 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Youth Temple, 22 Pilgrim Pathway, Ocean Grove. The concert features David Cohen on the classical guitar and flamenco guitar, the Chinese pipa and the bagpipes; Jo Wymer, blues guitar and vocals; and M’Zume Carnivale, a Brasilian/Afro Cuban carnival band. Tickets are $10, $13 at the door. Details: 732-774- 1391, www.oceangrovechamber.org or www.foodbankconcert.org.

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The sixth annual A.J.’s New Jersey Polar Dip to benefit Camp Sunshine is set for 1 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Avenue Beach Club, 23 Ocean Ave., Long Branch. This year, plungers are encouraged to create a plunge team of four or more people, consisting of co-workers and classmates and from civic groups or places of worship. Individual participants must raise a minimum of $100 in pledges. All proceeds benefit Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. To pledge online and for more information on the event, visit www.freezinforareason.com.

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The Rotary Club ofAsbury Park will hold its fourth annual Polar Plunge on Jan. 28 at theAsbury Park Boardwalk. Registration begins 9:30 a.m. at McLoone’s Supper Club, with the plunge at 11 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the Rotary Eye Rescue Project and other service projects. Details: www.rotarypolarplunge.org/.

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Prevention First will hold its annual gala Feb. 4 at the Navesink Country Club in Red Bank, where Nick and Tracy Brown will be honored for their commitment to Prevention First and the community. This year’s theme, “Fly Me to the Moon,” exemplifies the spirit of the agency’s mission. Cocktails and dinner will be served. For sponsorship opportunities or ticket information, visit www.preventionfirst.net.

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Veterans of Foreign Wars Brighton Memorial Post No. 2140, 255 Willow Ave., Long Branch, will have its All U Can Eat Breakfast 8:30 a.m.-noon Jan. 29. The cost of $7 includes juice; eggs; waffles with or without ice cream; home fries; bacon; sausage; homemade biscuit with gravy; this week’s breakfast special is made-to-order French toast; pancakes; toast; coffee; tea and milk. Everyone is welcome. Breakfast is served the first, third and fifth Sunday of each month. Takeout is available on request. Details 732-870-2224.

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